The "Adventure Game Studio Community" Appreciation thread.

[Andail]

Don't we have these let's-thank-everybody-threads over at gen-gen at least a few times a year?
I don't know...it's one thing if you've done some kind of achievement and wish to thank those who helped you get there, but these sponteneous displays of admiration tend to be a bit like the best-buddies-lists kids make in school.

As for graphics, there have surely been a decent amount of acclaimed games that don't show any traces of traditional drawing skills.
It's often enough to make art that's consistent, functional and serves its purpose. Pleurghburg is one great example.

[Matti]

Just for that I'll take you off my bestest-buddy-list, Andail. 

[Dualnames]

We cant forget Dualnames and all previous Mags competition hosts.

Woot, someone did remember me in those Threads..

I'm calling Ashen! Even though he's not here, he always treated me with respect, even when I was a noob. (I'm not saying I'm not yet)

[Joseph DiPerla]

AWWWW. You deserve it DN.

Pssst.... Your gonna fix the votes so I win this month, right?

[Haddas]

I love you all and I want to have sex with you.

Yes, you too.

[JD]

Don't worry Joseph, you're not alone!  I've been trying to make a game for quite a few years now and I still havn't managed to release something. I can do ok art. Nothing amazing but as long as people can recognize what I draw it's all fine with me.

As Mods said, self discipline is my problem. I have to be more persistant. I usually start working on a game with all kinds of ideas, but after I've done about 4 or 5 rooms and added some characters and an intro, I get bored of it. I'm currently on my 5th or 6th rpg project with AGS now. At least it gets easier every time I restart, so perhaps the 10th attempt will be a finished game!

Last week my pc broke down just while I was working on the latest attempt. I had everything backed up (lesson learnt in 2001; harddisk crash, Star Spoof gone) but I couldn't use my pc for a few days. I lost interest during those days and some ideas for a regular adventure game popped up. I'm really trying to be persistant this time and continue work on the rpg.

Sorry for being a bit off-topic!

[Joseph DiPerla]

Yeah tell me about it. I am so tempted to quit this MAGS game. I mean, just look at this head!!!!! Its the main character and it took me an hour to make.

[Vince Twelve]

Okay, long post coming.

If you don't have the time and patience to devote to your art, then you just have to lower the level of quality you're looking for.

I think the head looks fine.  Sometimes it's worth it to just ignore art quality in the interest of just getting something done.  If you released a game that had a fantastic story and great gameplay with the worst graphics ever, I admit, you'd get fewer players.  But some people will still play it and the word of mouth about the great story/gameplay will bring others.  Most importantly, just having something done that demonstrates your worth in the non-art areas of game making will help to attract artists to help out with your future games.

Everyday, when you sit down to work on your game, write down the things that you want to get done in that work session and the amount of time you want to limit them to.

For example, if you find yourself with five hours on a Saturday, here's an example time budget:
-Main character standing sprite (four directions): 45 min
-Main character walking animation side: 1 hour
-import all art so far into game: 15 minutes
-Background for first room: 1 hour
-Post chars and background to critics lounge: 15 minutes
-Implement all code and interaction in first room: 1 hour 45 minutes


Set a timer and hold yourself to those limits.  Do not check the internet (except to post in the critics lounge as budgeted).  In fact, turn it off.  Get rid of any other distractions that you find are slowing you down.

If you don't finish one of the tasks in the alotted time, save what you have and move on to the next.  Use what you have so far as placeholder art in the game (Resonance is full of placeholder art that is being slowly replaced).  By the end of the day, you have one finished room.  The next day, budget some time to check the critics lounge and make some edits.  But don't spend too much time!  Get the second room done during your next work session.  Stay focused on making forward momentum.

I usually follow more loose "do what I can when I can with no time limits" structure while working, but when I find myself with a decent amount of free time (so rare these days  :'() I make a list like that.  I call it a "Kill Task" day and do not stop until I have killed all the tasks.  Quality is not as important as getting it done.  Quality can be added on later revisions.  Just get it done.

That's how I work.  I suggest trying it, it may or may not work for you.  If you spend too much time fussing over a head, then you've probably got your priorities out of alignment with what you need for game development.

[Matti]

Do not check the internet (except to post in the critics lounge as budgeted).  In fact, turn it off.  Get rid of any other distractions that you find are slowing you down.

Yeah, that's one of my major problems. I'm often distracted and unconcentrated and that is taking away much energy and time. I bet I could easily do all my game (and uni-) related stuff in half the time than it actually takes me.

[SSH]

This thread needs more posts like Ghost's one.

[Joseph DiPerla]

I think SSH is great!!!!!!!! MODULES ROCK!!!!

[m0ds]

Just so long as he leaves out such innacuracies as

Plus he basically invented these AGS-game AGS awards,

in the future

[SSH]

I invented them in the same way that Al Gore invented the internet

[Peder 🚀]

We cant forget Dualnames and all previous Mags competition hosts.

What about me? . I "donated" the NEW domain .


Also I'd like to specially thank a couple of AGS'ers who have been alot of help to me in different ways!
Nikolas!
Nihilyst (yes, I am still gonna finish Companion )
Scorpiorus (wherever you are)
Petra (hopefully you will be back again sometime!)

There are probably alot more people I could thank, but these are the ones that have given me larger amounts of help that I have appreciated ALOT!

[Snake]

I'd love to do some research into it, find out how many games have been completed by "musicians" or "programmers", because I'm almost certain just about every "complete game" has been made by someone who can draw. AGS is for everyone yes, but don't kid yourself - you need to be an artist to actually have a hope in hell in completing something decent, worth-while.

Markster, I just think that you're experiencing an early mid-life crisis.

[m0ds]

LOL, no no, I'm fine... Well, I'm fine as of about 2 weeks ago when I took a completely new view to 3D modelling and it actually worked out a bit... But I will still continue to hold that view - most of the games that are completed are led by designers who are able to do art, or at least, backup art. Dave, Phil, Yahtzee, Rodekill, Shane, The Schlapfers, Andail, 2ma2...they completed their games cos they can draw, at least, enough to their advantage. Some of us sadly cannot.

[Dualnames]

What about the man didn't draw his game, didn;t pay for a bg artist and didn't have coolish looking bgs on his game? And won 4 awards or so?

Colourwise that's the game. Bicilotti hired Ghost and the game did have very simple graphics.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I think it depends on your expectations.  If you've got commercial expectations and can only draw stick men, obviously you need to rethink what is more important to you:  getting your story out there for people to play in spite of modest graphics or waiting and waiting until you can find or afford an artist up to the standards you want?

I've played some good games on the database that had really simple but functional graphics, so I don't think you should let graphics hold you back for a freeware game unless you're really obsessive about vision and making everything just so.  Also, this thread's gotten rather off-topic and there's already an active thread about programmer art.

[Snake]

LOL, no no, I'm fine... Well, I'm fine as of about 2 weeks ago when...

It's called denial, man, can't you smell it? Hardily Hoodily Hoo!1

Bicilotti hired Ghost and the game did have very simple graphics.

I beg to differ, Dauls. They may seem simple graphics at first glance, but, were very precise. The palette was extraordinary. Very well done, simple in the least.

In responce to what this thread was origionally written for:
I would like to express how much I appreciate LEON.
I've already told him how much I appreciate him in a PM like, last year or so, but, I think I'll say it out loud this time - this is what I wrote:

I just wanted to tell you that you need some sort of medal or something.

I was just in the "Hints and Tips" forum to see about Loftus and the Sky Cap and there you are... again. The first thing out of my mouth was, "Jesus, he's right on top a' shit!".

Seriously, man. You do a lot of playing, walk-through making and responding with helpful hints. Down the road I hope you get the AGS recognition you deserve.

My hat's off to you.

I'm actually quite suprised that nobody else has mentioned him.

Guys, he responds to, if not all, almost every single thread in the Hints and Tips forum. He's making walkthroughs 24/7 and he's always there when you need him. The guy goes out of his way to know every single little detail about your game.

He's great. I hope there's more out there than just me who sees it.

[arj0n]

I totally agree with Snake.

He's always there when someone needs a quality answer in the Hints and Tips section.
He seems to know almost any released ags game in detail.
Plus his website with error free walkthroughs, all of them created by first playing those games.
That's really time consuming. And I know he also does have an ordinary job to do too.
And besides that he is always willing to offer almost any ags game
(normal ones and mags) for download on his site when asked.
A very valuable person for such a community like this in my opinion.